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Psychometric evaluation of the German version of the Life Attitude Profile–Revised (LAP-R) in prostate cancer patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 May 2008

Anja Mehnert  and
Uwe Koch
Anja Mehnert*
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
Uwe Koch
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Anja Mehnert, Department of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52-S35, 20246 Hamburg, Germany. E-mail: mehnert@uke.uni-hamburg.de
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Abstract

Objective:

There has been an increasing interest in the measurement of patients efforts to find meaning during the experience of a life-threatening illness. The aim of this study was to validate the German version of the Life Attitude Profile–Revised (LAP-R), a multidimensional measure of meaning and purpose.

Methods:

A total of 511 prostate cancer patients with an average age of 64 years filled in the questionnaire during outpatient follow up care (response rate 70%).

Results:

Five of the original six dimensions were replicated by exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis: Coherence, Existential Vacuum, Choice/Responsibleness, Death Acceptance, and Goal Seeking. The Purpose dimension was not replicated. Most LAP-R subscales showed good internal consistencies with Cronbach's α between .80 and .82, whereas the reliability for Existential Vacuum (α = .69) and Goal Seeking (α = .74) was less sufficient, but still acceptable. Results show significant concurrent associations between all LAP-R dimensions and measures of emotional distress, coping, and health-related quality of life; however, moderate correlations were found only for Existential Vacuum and depression, and inversely for depressive coping and the mental health subscale.

Significance of research:

The German LAP-R is a reliable and valid instrument that can be recommended for further use in research and clinical cancer care.

Keywords

MeaningCancerProstate cancerAssessmentLAP-RHealth-related quality of lifeHRQOL
Type
Original Articles
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 6 , Issue 2 , June 2008 , pp. 119 - 124
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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